The Unexpected Visitor
It was a Tuesday afternoon when the bell above the door chimed, and I looked up to see a face I never expected to encounter again.
Mr. Davis – my former boss from Midwest Mutual – stood awkwardly by the entrance, raindrops sliding off his trench coat onto our welcome mat. The coffee shop fell silent for a moment, or maybe that was just the blood rushing in my ears.
‘I heard about your place,’ he said, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he approached the counter. ‘I wanted to see it for myself.
‘ His eyes darted around, taking in the mismatched furniture, the community bulletin board overflowing with flyers, and the wall of employee photos – including several people he’d probably rejected for jobs over the years.
I felt Diane stiffen beside me, recognizing him instantly. Janet, arranging pastries nearby, nearly dropped a tray. But I simply smiled and reached for a mug.
‘What can I get you?’ I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. He ordered a simple black coffee, and I served it with the same professional courtesy I showed every customer, though my hands trembled slightly as I slid it across the counter.
‘On the house,’ I said.
He looked surprised, then ashamed. ‘Cathy, I—’ he began, but stopped himself. As he took a seat by the window, I couldn’t help wondering what had really brought him here after all this time. Was it guilt? Curiosity? Or something else entirely?
What I didn’t realize then was that his visit would force me to confront feelings I thought I’d put behind me long ago.